daily double

the hard way

ACROSS 1 Antique instrument put in fire contrary to expectation (7) 4 Came upon an empty pool (5) 7 A sign of sci-fi hero’s return? (4) 8 Girl compelled to take a job (8) 10 Good story about a man can be forgiven (10) 12 Jokes in crackers (6) 13 Going to the front place of duty for nurse (6) 15 A capital asset in the main fight (10) 18 Not a favourite team in tour that’s arranged (8) 19 Grass border parking (4) 20 A weapon attached to a rifle perhaps (5) 21 Yet it’s a misplaced feeling of gratification (7) DOWN 1 Ship goes down as waters rise (5) 2 Get over unkind act that’s plain to see (5-3) 3 Rita excited when obtaining capital jewellery (6) 4 Priceless weapons employed by various people (10) 5 A film group, or what is taken as one (4) 6 Stubborn fellow? I’d heard otherwise (7) 9 Patient for carrying (10) 11 Fabric produced only when money’s shown first (8) 12 They want a hand (7) 14 Capital A followed by S? (6) 16 A growing source of opium (5) 17 A case of pins and needles (4)

the easy way

ACROSS 1 Shrewdly tactful (7) 4 Proportional share (5) 7 Nominate (4) 8 Playful repartee (8) 10 A duplicate (6,4) 12 Leave empty (6) 13 Ill (6) 15 Elegantly expressed (4-6) 18 Collection of public records (8) 19 To polish (4) 20 Colour slightly (5) 21 Type of fishing boat (7) DOWN 1 Uncontrollable fear (5) 2 A five-line comic verse (8) 3 Opportunity (6) 4 A favour given in return (4,3,3) 5 Algerian Mediterranean port (4) 6 Pleasant feature (7) 9 Conform to the general policy (3,3,4) 11 Peaceful (8) 12 Courageous (7) 14 Moving smoothly and gracefully (6) 16 Yield to another’s wishes (5) 17 Object of uncritical devotion (4)